Bicycle pedal

ABSTRACT

A pedal comprises a spindle, a pedal body, and traction pins located in the pedal body. The pedal body rotates around the spindle. The pedal body has two surfaces configured to receive a shoe. Traction pins pass through openings in the pedal body and extend beyond the surface of the pedal body to form a platform for the rider&#39;s shoe. The heads of the traction pins are shaped to help secure the rider&#39;s shoe on the pedal. The traction pins are secured in the pedal body by fasteners that interact with the traction pins via holes positioned perpendicular to the traction pin openings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to bicycle pedals and specifically a platformpedal with traction pins retained in the pedal body to improve retentionbetween a rider's foot and the pedal.

BACKGROUND ART

Bicycles generally use pedals to drive a wheel and provide power. Oftena rear wheel of a bicycle is supported near a rearward end of a frame, acrank assembly is rotatably supported by a lower portion of the frameand a drive chain or belt extends between the crank assembly and therear wheel to transfer power. The pedals are connected to the crankassembly, and the rider transfers power to the bicycle through thepedals.

Pedal designs include basic pedals and pedals with a variety of methodsfor affixing a rider's shoes to the pedal. Basic pedal designs rangefrom pedals designed to be used for casual riding to more specializedpedals that may include aggressive traction pins to be used for off-roadriding, downhill riding, and racing. These off-road pedals that mayinclude traction pins are often called “platform” pedals.

One drawback with current pedal designs with traction pins is that theretention of traction pins limits the design of the pedal. Retaining thetraction pins in the pedal body often drives the design of the pedalbody itself and the materials used to manufacture the pedal body.Typically, existing pedals with traction pins require the pedal body toact as the treaded fastener for the traction pin, and threads are cutinto the pedal body and traction pins such that the traction pin itselfis threaded into the pedal body. This requires the pedal body materialto be strong enough to retain the traction pin in place in all kinds ofenvironmental conditions. Further if the traction pin threads or thepedal body threads are damaged, the pedal is rendered less useful. Thus,in prior designs, the strength of the thread in the pedal body and alongthe traction pins are of utmost importance to the function of the pedal;therefore, limiting both the materials that can be used for the pedalbody and traction pins and the overall design and location of the bodyand pins. What is needed is an improved design to retain traction pinsthat permits greater design freedom for the design of the pedal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention relates to a new pedal design that includestraction pins for use on bicycles and other vehicles. The pedalcomprises a spindle, a pedal body, and traction pins secured in thepedal body by fasteners. The traction pins and pedal body form aplatform to support and secure a rider's shoe to the pedal.

The pedal body rotates around the spindle. The pedal body has twosurfaces configured to receive a shoe. The rider's shoe typically is onthe surface of the pedal that is facing upward. Traction pins passthrough openings in the pedal body with the heads of the traction pinsprotruding from the pedal body to form a secure platform for the rider'sshoe. The heads of the traction pins are shaped to aid in securing therider's shoe on the pedal. The traction pins are secured in the pedalbody by fasteners that interact with the traction pins via holespositioned perpendicular to the traction pins. Typically, the fastenerspass through the pedal body and mate with a threaded opening in thetraction pins to fix the traction pins in place. This design affordsgreater flexibility in the design of the pedal body and choice ofmaterials used for the pedal body while still providing positiveretention of the traction pins. For example, lighter weight pedal bodydesigns with lighter weight composite materials can be used tomanufacture the pedal body while still confidently fixing the tractionpins to the pedal. The present invention eliminates the need to threadthe traction pin directly into the pedal body, which allows for greaterfreedom in the choice of the materials that can be used for the pedalbody and traction pins and the overall design and location of the bodyand pins.

The traction pins may extend beyond one or both surfaces of the pedalbody. The opposite surface may have another method of securing therider's shoe to the pedal. This has the potential to reduce the numberof required traction pin components by one half, as they are dual-sided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of examplesand are not limited to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the bicycle pedal.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the bicycle pedal.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the bicycle pedal.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bicycle pedal body.

FIG. 5a is an embodiment of the traction pin of the current invention.

FIG. 5b is an alternative embodiment of the traction pin of the currentinvention.

FIG. 5c is another alternative embodiment of the traction pin of thecurrent invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the bicycle pedal in FIG. 2 alongsection line A-A further showing a fastener, a traction pin, and pedalbody with the traction pin secured in the pedal body.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the bicycle pedal showing aportion of a bicycle rider's shoe engaging the heads of the tractionpins

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring now to the figures, A pedal 10 includes a pedal body 20 thatrotates around a spindle 30. The pedal body 20 has two surfaces 21, 23,and the rider can place a shoe 5 on either surface that is facing up.The pedal body 20 contains a plurality of traction pins 40 that passthrough a plurality of openings 42 in the pedal body 20. The tractionpins 40 are secured to the pedal body 20 by way of fasteners 60 thatenter the pedal body 20 through holes 62 positioned perpendicular to thetraction pins 40. The fasteners 60 interact with the traction pins 40 byway of a threaded opening 46 and fix the traction pins in place. Thethreaded end portions 48 located at the distal end of the traction pins49 and the surfaces of the pedal body 21, 23 form a secure platform fora rider's shoe 5.

The pedal 10 may have traction pins 40 protruding beyond one surface 21of the pedal body 20 or both surfaces 21, 23. In one embodiment, thepedal 10 can have traction pins 40 extending from one surface 21 of thebody 20 forming a single platform. In such configuration, another meansof securing a rider's shoe 5 to the pedal can be located on the oppositeside of the pedal. In another embodiment, the traction pins 40 mayextend beyond both surfaces 21, 23 of the body and form secure platformson both sides of the pedal as shown in FIG. 2. This means the rider isable to place a foot on whichever of the two surfaces 21, 23 of thepedal that is facing upwards.

The pedal body 20 may be constructed from any material sufficient towithstand the forces the rider places upon the pedal and forces fromimpact. In one embodiment of the pedal 10, the pedal body 20 is formedfrom a composite material. This material provides a weight savings overmetal pedal bodies and can also be designed in many desirableconfigurations.

In an embodiment of the pedal 10 shown in FIG. 4, the pedal body 20 hasa plurality of openings 42 passing through the body 20. The openings arespaced around the pedal body 20 in desired locations. The openings aresized to accommodate the traction pins 40. In an alternative embodiment,the openings 42 do not pass fully through the pedal body 20, and thetraction pins 40 are only protruding from one surface of the pedal 10.Such a traction pin design is shown in FIG. 5 b.

The traction pins 40 are arranged in the openings 42 and secured inplace by fasteners 60. The fasteners 60 are inserted into fastener holes62 around the outer periphery of the pedal body 20. The fastener holes62 are positioned perpendicular to the openings 42. This permits thefasteners to interact with the traction pins 40 and secure them inplace.

In one embodiment, the fastener holes 62 allow the fasteners 60 to passthrough the pedal body allowing the fasteners 60 to thread into thetraction pins 40 to secure them in place by interacting with thethreaded opening 46. In another embodiment, the fastener holes 62 in thepedal body 20 are threaded. The fasteners 60 are threaded into thefastener holes 62 and, when fully tightened into the holes 62, thefasteners 60 thread into the traction pins 40 to secure them in place byinteracting with the threaded opening 46. In an alternative embodiment,the fasteners 60 may be press fit in place and secure the traction pinsin the pedal body by interacting with detent 41 in the traction pin 40as shown in FIG. 5c . In such an embodiment, an adhesive may be utilizedto secure the fasteners in the holes 62 of the pedal body 20.

The fasteners 60 may interact with the traction pins 40 in several ways.The fasteners 60 may thread into the traction pins 40 by interactingwith the threaded opening 46 in the traction pin 40. The fasteners 60may be pressed into the pedal body applying a force against the tractionpins 40 via a detent 41 that retains the tractions pins 40 by increasedfriction between the traction pins 40 and the openings 42 in addition tothe friction between the traction pins 40 and the fasteners 60. Thefastener openings 62 may be threaded such that the fasteners 60 aretreaded into the pedal body and interact with the threaded hole 46. Thefastener openings 62 may be threaded such that the fasteners 60 aretreaded into the pedal body and interact with the detent 41 or anunthreaded opening in the traction pins. It will be understood thatother similar methods may be employed to fix the traction pin 40 inplace using interaction with the fasteners 60.

In one embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the traction pins 40 have a threadedportion 48 and a head 49 on either end of the traction pin 40. Thetraction pins 40 also have a base portion 47 located within pedal body20 as shown for example in FIG. 6. The head 49 is shaped to providegreater friction between the rider's shoe 5 and the pedal 10. As shownin FIG. 6, the traction pin 40 has an opening 46 relatively centrallylocated. The opening 46 is generally located in the base portion 47 ofthe traction pin 40. The openings 46 of the traction pins 40 areconfigured to interact with the fasteners 60 and secure the tractionpins 40 in place. The fasteners 60 thread into the opening 46. In analternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5c , the traction pins 40 has adetent 41. In these embodiments the fasteners 60 thread into the pedalbody 20 and press against the traction pins 40 and secure the pins inplace.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to any particular the arrangement describedabove. It should also be appreciated that the pedal design can be usedon e-bikes and other vehicles that use pedals.

What is claimed is:
 1. A platform pedal comprising: a spindle; a bodyconstructed from composite material rotatably coupled to the spindle; aplurality of cylindrical traction pins positioned in a plurality ofopenings in the body, the traction pins having a base portion locatedwithin the body and a head protruding from a surface of the body to forma platform atop the traction pins; and a plurality of fastenersextending through a plurality of holes in the body positionedperpendicular to the traction pins, wherein the ends of the fastenersare threaded and the fasteners thread into holes in the base portion ofthe traction pins and secure the traction pins in the body.
 2. Aplatform pedal comprising: a spindle; a body rotatably coupled to thespindle; a plurality of cylindrical traction pins positioned in aplurality of openings in the body, the traction pins having a baseportion located within the body and a head protruding from a surface ofthe body to form a platform atop the traction pins; a plurality offasteners extending through a plurality of holes in the body positionedperpendicular to the traction pins, wherein the fasteners are threadedand screwed into a threaded opening in the traction pin base portion andsecure the traction pins in the body; and wherein the heads of thetraction pins engage a bicycle rider's shoe to provide greater frictionbetween the bicycle rider's shoe and the pedal without retaining theshoe to the pedal.
 3. The pedal of claim 2 wherein the body is formedfrom a composite material.
 4. A platform pedal comprising: a spindle; abody rotatably coupled to the spindle; a plurality of cylindricaltraction pins positioned in a plurality of openings in the body, thetraction pins having a base portion located within the body and a headprotruding from a surface of the body to form a platform atop thetraction pins; a plurality of fasteners extending through a plurality ofholes in the body positioned perpendicular to the traction pins, whereinthe plurality of holes in the body positioned perpendicular to thetraction pins are threaded and the fasteners thread into the body andinteract with an opening in the base portion the traction pins; andwherein the heads of the traction pins engage a bicycle rider's shoe toprovide greater friction between the bicycle rider's shoe and the pedalwithout retaining the shoe to the pedal.